PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $154 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $539 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-11900KB across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 22,693).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 42.1 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $539 MSRP).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Core i9-11900KB

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +28.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 12.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 42.1 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($539 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
40% HIGHER MSRP
$539 MSRPvs$385 MSRP

Core i7-9700K

2018

Core i9-11900KB

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $154 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $539 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +28.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 12.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 42.1 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($539 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-11900KB across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 22,693).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 42.1 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $539 MSRP).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌
40% HIGHER MSRP
$539 MSRPvs$385 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-11900KB better than Core i7-9700K?

Yes. Core i9-11900KB is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 28.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 57.6% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-11900KB is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 28.9% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-11900KB is the better fit. You are getting 57.6% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i9-11900KB is the smarter buy today. Core i9-11900KB is 40.0% more expensive on MSRP at $539 MSRP versus $385 MSRP, and it gives you a 28.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 12.6% better value on MSRP (42.1 vs 37.4 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i9-11900KB is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2018), 100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i7-9700K Benchmark Check

Core i9-11900KB Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-11900KB
1080p
low	308 FPS	250 FPS
medium	278 FPS	231 FPS
high	231 FPS	194 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	167 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	222 FPS
medium	221 FPS	186 FPS
high	178 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	155 FPS
medium	140 FPS	131 FPS
high	108 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	89 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i9-11900KB

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-11900KB
1080p
low	360 FPS	567 FPS
medium	321 FPS	490 FPS
high	291 FPS	410 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	374 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	475 FPS
medium	282 FPS	421 FPS
high	258 FPS	365 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	317 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	293 FPS
medium	221 FPS	262 FPS
high	208 FPS	247 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	219 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i9-11900KB

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-11900KB
1080p
low	360 FPS	567 FPS
medium	360 FPS	567 FPS
high	360 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	388 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	567 FPS
medium	360 FPS	501 FPS
high	360 FPS	426 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	346 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	430 FPS
medium	360 FPS	369 FPS
high	360 FPS	325 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	260 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i9-11900KB

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-11900KB
1080p
low	360 FPS	567 FPS
medium	360 FPS	567 FPS
high	360 FPS	567 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	567 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	567 FPS
medium	360 FPS	567 FPS
high	360 FPS	567 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	492 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	523 FPS
medium	360 FPS	469 FPS
high	360 FPS	417 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	358 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i9-11900KB

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and Core i9-11900KB

Core i7-9700K

The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.

Core i9-11900KB

The Core i9-11900KB is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Maio 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 22,693 points. Launch price was $539.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, matching the Core i9-11900KB's 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i9-11900KB — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i9-11900KB uses Tiger Lake-H (2021) (10 nm SuperFin). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Core i9-11900KB's 22,693 — a 44.7% lead for the Core i9-11900KB. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 24 MB (total) on the Core i9-11900KB.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-11900KB
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	4.9 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+9%	3.3 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	24 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)+400%
Process	14 nm	10 nm SuperFin-29%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Tiger Lake-H (2021)
PassMark	14,397	22,693+58%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	12,264
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	10,645

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-11900KB uses FCBGA1787 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700K) vs 20 (Core i9-11900KB) — the Core i9-11900KB offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K) and Mobile (Core i9-11900KB).

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-11900KB
Socket	LGA1151	FCBGA1787
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Core i9-11900KB supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 630 (Core i7-9700K) and Intel UHD Graphics (Core i9-11900KB) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-11900KB
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	Intel UHD Graphics
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the Core i9-11900KB debuted at $539. On MSRP ($385 vs $539), the Core i7-9700K is $154 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 42.1 pts/$ for the Core i9-11900KB — making the Core i9-11900KB the 11.8% better value option.